Wire-shaping machine



March 23 1926. 1,578,141

G. W- LANGE ET AL WIRE SHAPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 23 1926. 1,578,141

G. w. LANGE ET AL WIRE SHAPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1922 4Sheets-Sheet 2 I In we]? 70215; M air/M March '23 1926. 1,578,141

G. w. LANGE ET AL WIRE SHAPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1922 4Sheets-Sheet 4 W i? W% In ven ?071 'Patented 23, 1926.

LQUNFITFED 7 sTArEs" 1,578,141 PATENT OFFICE;

GUSTAV W. LANGE AND GUSTAV 1VL LANGE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TOTHE FOWLER & UNION HORSE NAIL, COMPANY, OF TONAWANDA TOWNSHIP, NEW YORK,A CORFORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

WIRE-SHAPING MAoHiNE.

Application filed February 28, 1922. Serial No. 539,841.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GUsTAv W. LANGE and GUSTAV M. LANGE, cit zens ofthe United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and Stateof New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire- ShapingMachines, of which the following is a specification. I 1

This invention relates to a Wire shaping machine and more particularlyto a machine for imparting to wire of circular cross-sec- .t'ionrectangular cross-section, in which latter shape. it is suitable formaking horseshoe nails as well as various other articles.

3 One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter which will give the wire a practically perfect rectangular orother desired. cross-section and at the same time avoid impairment ofits tensile strength;

A further object is the-provision of a sim-' ple, compact andinexpensive wire shaping machine which combines maximum production witha minimum expenditure of power and labor, and which requires acomparatively small floor space.

A still further object of this. invention is to provide the machine withsimple and convenient means for adjusting the wire-forming dies toaccommodate stock of different sizes.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 isa side elevation of themachine. Figure 2 is a top plan viewthereof. Figure 3 is an enlargedfragmentary transverse section on line 33, Fig. 2. Figure i is anenlarged fragmentary longitudinal section on line i H, Fig. 2. Figures 5and 6 are enlarged fragmentary transverse sections on thecorrespondingly numbered lines in Fig. 2. Figure 7 is a sectional topplan view .of the driv ing mechanism of the forming dies. Figure 8 is avertical section .on' line 8'8, Fig. 3. Figure 9 is a horizontal sectionon line .9-9, Fig. 8, Figure 10 is a front view of the edging orfinishing dies of the machine. Figure 11 is a vertical section of one ofthe bear ing bushings of the forming die shafts. Fig.- ure i2 isasectional elevation of oneof the forming die shafts and its bearingbushing. Figure 13 .is .ape-rspective view of the die I shaftsectionsand coupling member, showing the parts separated.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding partsthroughoutthe several views. I

In its general organization, this machine comprises a support or tablefor its working parts; two rows of forming dies or rolls ar-- rangedlengthwise of the machine on either side of the table, the dies on oneside thereof serving-to shape or cold roll the wire and feed it in onedirection and the dieson the other side serving to cold-roll the wireand feed it in the opposite direction; means for driving atprogressively increased speed the successive sets of forming dies, tocompensate for the elongation of the wire as it advances through themachine. I

20 indicates the bed or table of thema-H chine supported on legs 21.

Mounted upon the table and extending lengthwise of the machine are twosubstantially parallel rows or series of forming dies or rolls, eachpreferably consisting of three sets 22, 23, 24:, which are shaped toconvert wire of circular cross section into wire of rectangular or otherdesired cross section,

these dies serving at the same time to feed the wire through themachine. a The dies 22, 24 of the end sets are preferably rotatableabout a vertical aXis and arranged side by side transversely of themachine, while the dies 23 of the intermediate set are rotatable about ahorizontal axis and arranged one above the other. The several formingdies are provided in their peripheries wlth annular grooves25', thecompanion grooves of each set having the proper contour to form togethera substantially rectangular opening between them through which the roundwire,

Thewire is condensed and gradually elongated as "it passes throughtheseveral sets 24: are

lot

' Mounted on this driving shaft is a bevel gal pinion 33 which mesheswith a gear 39 journaled at its lower end on a vertical stub shaft 40secured to the table, as shown in Fig. 3." Connected with the gear 39 toturn therewith is a pinion 41 which meshes with two comparatively largegear wheels 4-2, d3, mounted on shafts ist, 45, located on oppositesides of the shaft 40,2s shown in Fig. 7. Also mounted on the shaft 4lare two gears 46, 47 of different diameters which mesh, respectively,with pinions 43, {i9 mounted on the shafts 26, 26 of the first set offorming dies at one side of the table 20 and the last set of dies on theopposite side thereof. The shafts 27 of the companion dies of these setsare provided with similar pinions 51, 52, thus rotating these dies atthe proper speed and in opposite directions to feed the wiresuccessively through the two series of dies. Mounted on the shaft 45 aretwo gears 53, 54 of different diameters which mesh, respectively, withpinions 55, 56, mounted on the shafts 26, 26, of the last set of formingdies at one side of the table and the first set of dies at the rear sidethereof. The shafts 27 of the companion dies of these sets are providedwith similar pinions 57,

58, thus rotating these dies at the desired speed and in oppositedirections to feed the wire through the machine.

The intermediate set of dies 'of each row is also driven from the maindrive shaft 35. For this purpose, the latter is provided at or nearopposite ends with sprocket wheels 59, 59, and mounted on shafts 60, 61,projecting from opposite sides of the table are corresponding sprocketWheels 62, 62. Sprocket chains 63 pass around the sprocket wheels 59,62. Mounted on the shafts 60, 61 are pinions 64, 65, respectively, thepinion 64- meshing with a gear 66 mounted on the end of thelowerhorizontal shaft 31 of the intermediate set of dies 23 at the front sideof the machine, while the pinion meshes with an idler gear 67 which inturn mesheswith a gear 68 mounted on the end of the lower horizontalshaft 31 of the correspond ing set of dies at the opposite side of themachine. Motion is transmitted from'the lower die shaft 31 to the upperdie shaft 30 through the medium of intermeshing gears 30 and 31*.

Means are provided for taking up the wear of the forming dies and alsofor replacing them by dies to suit wires of different sizes. This iseffected without interfering with or throwing any of the gears out ofmesh, and as shown in the drawings, these devices are preferablyconstructed as follows: 7

()ne of the upper shaft bearings of each set of end dies 22, 2et say,the bearing 29 of the shaft 27, is adjustable toward and from thebearing 28 of the shaft 26 and the two upper shaft bearings 32 of theintermediate set of horizontal forming dies 23 are likewise adjustabletoward and from the corresponding lower shaft bearings 33. To permitsuch adjustment of these bearings and their die shafts, the latter aredivided 'between their driving pinions and said bearings into twosections 70 and 71 which are universally and slidably connected togetherby an intermediate coupling memberordisk 72. The latter is provided onopposite sides with tongues 73 arranged substantially at right angles toeach other, while the opposing fiat ends of the shaft sections 70 and 71are provided with corresponding grooves 74 for receiving said tongues.This construc tion, while compelling the sections of the die ticallymovable wedge 6 interposed between the straight inner wall 7'? of thebase 75 and the inclined outer wall 73 of said heating block. The upperend of this wedge is provided with a lug 79 having a slot 80,

through which passes an upright bolt 81 projecting from the top of thebearing block. This lug is adjustably clamped between a pair of nuts 81engaging said bolt.

The adjustable bearings 32 of each die shaft 30 are also in the form ofbloclfs which are guided for vertical movement ina base or holder 82suitably secured to the table 20."

A horizontally disposedwedge 83 similar to the wedge 7 6 serves toadjust these bearing blocks as desired.

In traveling from the first to the second row of forming dies, the wirepasses around a freely rotatable guide-drum 8 1 mounted on the rear endof the table 20. The wire, after passing through the several formingdies is wound upon a rotary take-up drum 85 mounted at the front end ofthetable in line with the second rowv of dies. This take-up drum iscontrolled by a suitable clutch86' having a hand lever 37 for operatingit.

Lil

Located adjacent to and in line with the second set of forming diesis apair of edg ing or finishing'dies or rolls 88, arranged one above theother. The lower edging die is mounted in a fixed bearing-'89, while theupper die is preferably mount-ed in a vertiy ducting groove 92 whichstarts near the lower end of the bushing and extends nearly to its upperend, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The respective die shaft is providedwith an axial oil passage 93 which extends downwardly fromits upper endand communicates at its lower end with the first turn of the oil groove92. As the shaft rotates, a column, of oil is caused to ascend throughthespiral groove and overflow into the central passage 93, of the shaft,from. which it is discharged by gravity at the first turn of saidgroove, thus effecting a continuous circulation of the oil around theshaft. To

further assist this circulation, the shaft may be provided in its side.with a longitudinal groove 94 through which the oil is fed upwardly dueto the communicating spiral groove 92 in the bushing 91.

I The wire is conducted from one set of dies to the next by suitableguides such as the guide-tubes 95 shown in the drawings. In theoperation of this machine, the round stock of wire is supported on asuitable reel, not shown, and its end is threaded through the severalforming dies of the first row of the machine. It isnext passed aroundthe freely-rotating drum 84, thence threaded through the several formingdies of the second row and the finishing dies 88, and finally attachedin any suitable manner to the take-up drum 85. Motion is thentransmitted to the several dies which rotate Upon reaching the finishing'dies 88, the wire is practically shaped to the desired cross-section,but it is desirable to employ these additional dies which function tosquare up the edges or corners of the wire, pressing the same intouniform shape and correcting any remaining irregularities the-rein. v

By its passage'through the series of shaping dies, the wire iscompressed and condensed; It is not however drawn or stretched duringthese shaping operations and its tensile strength is therefore increased-rather thanimpaired,as is the case when the wire is drawn. By disposingthe several sets of dies in a plurality of substantially parallel rowsor series, and providing means for guiding the wire from the deliveryend of onerow'to the receiving end of the next, the course of the wirethrough the machine is doubled or reversed, instead of being straightfrom end to end of the machine, thus materially shortening the latter,rendering it more compact and requiring less floor space for it.Compared with machines in which the wire is shaped by drawingoperations, this improved machineproduces a superior product and affordsincreased production. with less labor.

While our machine is herein shown and described as particularlyadapted-for giving round wire a rectangular cross section, the formingdies may obviously be shaped to impart to such wire any other desiredcross section, such, for instance, as oval, triangular, diamond, &c.,according to the use or article of manufacture for which the wire isintended.

e claim as our invention:

1. In a wire shaping machine, the combination of a rotary shaft havingdriving means, two pairs of die-rolls arranged on opposite sides of saidshaft, the die-rolls of each pair having their shafts provided withintermeshing gears, and a pair of gears of different diameters securedto the first- 'named shaft, one of the last named gears bination of apair of parallel shafts, each carrying a driving gear, a driving pinioninterposed betweenthe gears of said shafts and meshing with both ofthem, pairs of dierolls arranged on opposite sides of each of saidshafts, the die-rolls of each pair having intermeshing gears, and a pairof gears of different diameters secured to each of said parallel shafts,one of the last-named GUSTAV WfLANGE. GUSTAV M. LANGE.

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